Gear Guide

Ski Vacations in the Rockies

February 26th, 2014

Is it a surprise that our highest ranked mountains are in the Mountain Time zone? Well, it shouldn’t be. The Rockies boast some of the most thrilling slopes with unbelievable vistas, trails for all skill levels and not to mention everything you can do while off the mountain. Here, we have listed our top mountains for ski vacation in the US!

Jackson Hole – Teton Village, Wyoming: Nestled away in the least populated state, Jackson Hole is home to 116 trails, 14 lifts and a comfortable summit point of 10,450 feet. Not for the faint of heart (or the first time skier), this is a paradise for skier and snowboarders and is a must for anyone planning the best ski vacations.

Aspen/Snowmass – Aspen, Colorado: What hasn’t been said about Aspen? The slopes, the shopping, the unrelenting fun. We are sure Aspen is on everyone’s bucket list for vacations. With 675 skiable acres as well as half pipes, terrain parks, glades and more, you will always find something to do in this Colorado haven.

Snowbird – Snowbird, Utah: Snowbird has one of the most diverse set of trails on the list which makes it great for beginners as well as experienced skiers. With an annual snowfall of 500 inches, you can always expect to have fresh powder as well as a place to ski. With 2500 skiable acres, you can spend days exploring everything Snowbird has to offer.

Sun Valley – Ketchum, Idaho: The premiere resort in Idaho, Sun Valley was a favorite retreat for author Ernest Hemingway and the place where Warren Miller began his career. With a great mix of difficult, intermediate and easy trails, there is something for everybody on this welcoming mountain.

When planning ski vacations, make sure not to overlook any state in the US! Sure, it may be easy to dismiss places like Wyoming and Idaho, but some of the best trails in the country are located in these areas of the Rockies. Check out mountain reviews, ski vacation ideas, gear and more at SkiGenie.

Top 25 Best Ski Towns

February 9th, 2012

According to National Geographic these are the Top 25 Best Ski Towns. While we most certainly agree on a few, it is clear they are missing some absolute classics such as Sankt Anton (Austria), Les 3 Valees (France) and Portillo (Chile). A few that wouldn’t pass the sniff test are North Conway (New Hampshire) and Bozeman (Montana), but we’ll solicit some feedback from our contributors and pass along their thoughts.

1. Girdwood, Alaska

2. Fernie, BC

3. Zermatt, Switzerland

4. Bozeman, Montana

5. Chamonix, France

6. Cortina, Italy

7. Whitefish, Montana

8. Crested Butte, Colorado

9. Aspen, Colorado

10. Niseko, Japan

11. Kitzbuhel, Austria

12. Bend, Oregon

13. Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Canada

14. Taos, New Mexico

15. Park City, Utah

16. Truckee, California

17. Whistler, BC, Canada

18. North Conway, NH

19. Banff, Canada

20. Steamboat Springs, Colorado

21. Telluride, Colorado

22. Jackson, Wyoming

23. Wanaka, New Zealand

24. Stowe, Vermont

25. Ketchum, Idaho

How can you forget this (Sankt Anton, Austria)? Where you (1) ski this, (2) eat pork and (3) party with these animal all while still in your ski clothes on the mountain…